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This paper describes an exercise in helping scientific experts find common ground with local residents following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. The first section discusses the effects of the accident in Iitate Village, which was fully evacuated after the accident, and the village’s sociocultural background, and presents a case study of a collaboration between experts and villagers in preparing an information booklet for the villagers. The second section discusses the potential for collaborations of experts in different disciplines to connect science and people, clarifies what experts learned from such a collaboration, and explains that cross-disciplinary collaboration is essential to avoiding confusion among residents. Concerns and questions from local residents were specific to their situation; residents needed specific information and advice on specific situations at specific times. The residents considered those concerns important and needed answers that would allow them to regain control over their lives. An information booklet was prepared to help local experts to build trust with the residents by providing them with the information they sought. The experts considered the process of developing the booklet to be a good example of collaboration with residents. Understanding the social values of residents, sharing those values, and making a commitment to the community were significant steps in building trust.

In the rural areas of Fukushima, many residents participate in a culture of satoyamausage, and this cultural practice should be respected when conducting radiation protection. We conducted a case study by performing interview survey and text analysis of former evacuees in a rural part of a former evacuation area in Fukushima, to evaluate their attitude towards personal usage of forest or satoyama after radiocaesium contamination and long evacuation following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident in 2011. The evacuation order in the study area was lifted in 2017, and our interview survey was conducted in 2019. We found that the resumption to the use of satoyamaafter their return varied among residents in this particular area. Most returnees in the area were highly knowledgeable about radiation in the environment, but we could not conclude that it helped them make decisions regarding whether to resume satoyamausage. Residents resuming personal use of satoyamaafter their return were those who had a close relationship with satoyamabefore the accident, such as the use of forest products for commercial purpose. These past experiences may have led them to have positive attitudes towards the resumption of satoyamausage after their return. Finally, we identified the required approaches towards resuming satoyamausage based on the interviewees’ different attitudes.

Following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) accident, numerous initiatives emerged to address the needs of evacuees, including those eligible to return home. These came from multiple channels, timely in many cases, but in retrospect, needing better coordination. By embracing eHealth, we are attempting to coordinate efforts in Fukushima intended to link returnees with health information and care providers, not only for radiological protection in particular, but also for health promotion in general. We aim to establish a comprehensive support system for residents in municipalities around the FDNPS by developing a digital application for interactive communication regarding radiation and health promotion and to link the tool to other resources provided by local health care providers and radiation specialists. This paper explains the progress of our innovative trial to introducing eHealth in areas affected by the FDNPS accident. Based on international recommendations for developing a digital tool in response to a nuclear accident, we designed a comprehensive support package including development and implementation of the application, data management, and health counselling and ethical considerations arising from such outreach. Our trial of connecting disaster-affected citizens to health services using informatics could serve as a model eHealth program for long-term restoration after a nuclear accident.

The article presents the different stages of the co-expertise process, which took place in the community of Suetsugi located about 30 km South from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, to improve radiological protection and the living conditions of the residents. The originality of the process lies in the fact that it was initiated and led by residents of the community with the help of local leaders and volunteer experts. It was also followed regularly by some members of the ICRP. The first part of the article recalls the general characteristics of the co-expertise process for post-nuclear accident management. The second part presents the different stages of the process that took place in the community of Suetsugi. The third part draws some lessons from the experience, which has significantly contributed to enriching the formalisation of the co-expertise process in particular with regard to the recovery of social trust and the role and attitude of experts during the recovery phase after a nuclear accident.

This paper describes the involvement of the residents of the Yamakiya district of the Kawamata town, a former evacuation area after the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), in the on-going research activities of the authors on the behaviour of radioactive caesium in the environment. By relying on dialogue, measuring radiation, and other collaborative practices, this involvement enabled a series of actions to be taken to resolve the challenges related to the recovery after the lifting of the evacuation order that were appreciated by the residents. The paper also discusses the effects of the interactive program led by the Yamakiya School organized by the authors in cooperation with the residents including among others lectures, voluntary works and radiological surveys on local issues. Based on the above, the authors make recommendations on the desirable form of relationship between residents and experts after an event of large-scale environmental pollution including radiological contamination. Through these activities the authors have also gradually changed their research approach.

AimsIn the 1990s, a bioactive bone cement (BABC) containing apatite-wollastonite glass-ceramic (AW-GC) powder and bisphenol-a-glycidyl methacrylate resin was developed at our hospital. In 1996, we used BABC to fix the acetabular component in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in 20 patients as part of a clinical trial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term results of primary THA using BABC.Patients and MethodsA total of 20 patients (three men and 17 women) with a mean age of 57.4 years (40 to 71), a mean body weight of 52.3 kg (39 to 64), and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 23.0 kg/m2(19.8 to 28.6) were evaluated clinically and radiologically. Survival analyses were undertaken, and wear analyses were carried out using a computer-aided method.ResultsThe mean follow-up was 17.6 years (1.5 to 21.1). Radiological loosening occurred in four sockets with aseptic loosening at a mean of 7.8 years (1.5 to 20.7). Kaplan–Meier survival analyses using revision of the acetabular component, radiological loosening of the acetabular component, and the worst-case scenario with revision of the acetabular component to include the two patients lost to follow-up as endpoints yielded survival rates of 94.7%, 84.4%, and 85.0% at ten years, and 70.0%, 84.4%, and 62.8% at 20 years, respectively. Wear analysis revealed a mean linear wear rate of 0.068 mm per year.ConclusionThe long-term results of primary THAs using BABC were unsatisfactory. Its brittle nature and poor handling properties need to be improved before it becomes an alternative method of fixing the acetabular component in cemented THA.Cite this article: Bone Joint J2019;101-B:787–792.

In this paper, we propose self-position estimation method considering dynamic obstacles. We obtain the probability that a voxel is containing a static obstacle, based on the number of times the voxel has been occupied by the obstacle. Then we give this probability to the point cloud in the voxel and perform robust and highly accurate relative posture estimation with the normal of this point. Finally, we propose a method to stably perform self-position estimation of 6 degrees of freedom by performing translational alignment using ICP.

We have developed the three dimensional light detection and ranging (3D-LiDAR) which has wide field of view in the vertical direction suitable for driving autonomously in urban areas and crowds. In this paper, we propose a method to recognize dynamic obstacles from motion of objects without using shape information. We classify point clouds as obstacles from the distance relationship between point to point, observe the movement of obstacles by tracking their centers of gravity. For creating precise map in the dynamic environment, we remove the dynamic objects from the point-clouds. The characteristics of wide field-of-view of the LiDAR makes localization robust. Experiments at Meiji University Ikuta campus showed the usefulness of this 3D-LiDAR and this method.

In this paper, we propose a novel localization method which utilize a edge-node map and information from only inner sensors. To reduce integration errors, we estimate the passed edge from measured moving distance and direction, and integrate the trajectory of the odometry with the estimated edge. We performed two kinds of experiments. First, we operated the robot in four kinds of environments. Second, the robot travel autonomously using this method. From these experiments, we confirmed that our localization system works properly in various kinds of environments and for autonomous driving.

This study used a reversal theory framework to examine motivational dominance and changes in motivational state, arousal, stress, and emotions among members of traditional Japanese (Nihon Odori Sports Science (NOSS)) and New Zealand (Kapa Haka) dance groups. Eighty-four participants (50 in Japan and 34 in New Zealand) completed questionnaires on each variable before and after a dance class. The findings indicated that the Kapa Haka dancers were significantly more playful and arousal-seeking than the NOSS dancers. They also reported higher overall arousal, preferred arousal, and effort during performance while the NOSS dancers became more serious afterward. Data on emotions matched those of arousal in that the Kapa Haka dancers felt significantly more excited and provocative after the session. The NOSS dancers were more relaxed and placid, both overall and after dancing. These patterns were consistent with the dancers’ respective motivational states and motivational dominance, and suggest that both dances can be effective in reducing negative affect. They also suggest that psychological effects are dependent upon performers' personal and cultural affiliation with the two dance forms.

The microscopic structure and dynamic properties of water, methanol, and acetonitrile confined in mesoporous MCM-41 materials have been investigated under monolayer and capillary-condensation conditions as a function of pore size and temperature by in situ FTIR and X-ray diffraction and quasi-elastic neutron scattering techniques. Both interfacial and confinement effects on the structure and dynamics of the liquids in hydrophilic pores are discussed at the molecular level.

Genotyping graft livers by short tandem repeats after human living‐donor liver transplantation (n = 20) revealed the presence of recipient or chimeric genotype cases in hepatocytes (6 of 17, 35.3%), sinusoidal cells (18 of 18, 100%), cholangiocytes (15 of 17, 88.2%) and cells in the periportal areas (7 of 8, 87.5%), suggesting extrahepatic cell involvement in liver regeneration. Regarding extrahepatic origin, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) have been suggested to contribute to liver regeneration but compose a heterogeneous population. We focused on a more specific subpopulation (1–2% of BM‐MSCs), called multilineage‐differentiating stress‐enduring (Muse) cells, for their ability to differentiate into liver‐lineage cells and repair tissue. We generated a physical partial hepatectomy model in immunodeficient mice and injected green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐labeled human BM‐MSC Muse cells intravenously (n = 20). Immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situhybridization and species‐specific polymerase chain reaction revealed that they integrated into regenerating areas and expressed liver progenitor markers during the early phase and then differentiated spontaneously into major liver components, including hepatocytes (≈74.3% of GFP‐positive integrated Muse cells), cholangiocytes (≈17.7%), sinusoidal endothelial cells (≈2.0%), and Kupffer cells (≈6.0%). In contrast, the remaining cells in the BM‐MSCs were not detected in the liver for up to 4 weeks. These results suggest that Muse cells are the predominant population of BM‐MSCs that are capable of replacing major liver components during liver regeneration.

Genotyping graft livers by short tandem repeats after human living-donor liver transplantation (n = 20) revealed the presence of recipient or chimeric genotype cases in hepatocytes (6 of 17, 35.3%), sinusoidal cells (18 of 18, 100%), cholangiocytes (15 of 17, 88.2%) and cells in the periportal areas (7 of 8, 87.5%), suggesting extrahepatic cell involvement in liver regeneration. Regarding extrahepatic origin, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) have been suggested to contribute to liver regeneration but compose a heterogeneous population. We focused on a more specific subpopulation (1–2% of BM-MSCs), called multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells, for their ability to differentiate into liver-lineage cells and repair tissue. We generated a physical partial hepatectomy model in immunodeficient mice and injected green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled human BM-MSC Muse cells intravenously (n = 20). Immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situhybridization and species-specific polymerase chain reaction revealed that they integrated into regenerating areas and expressed liver progenitor markers during the early phase and then differentiated spontaneously into major liver components, including hepatocytes (≈74.3% of GFP-positive integrated Muse cells), cholangiocytes (≈17.7%), sinusoidal endothelial cells (≈2.0%), and Kupffer cells (≈6.0%). In contrast, the remaining cells in the BM-MSCs were not detected in the liver for up to 4 weeks. These results suggest that Muse cells are the predominant population of BM-MSCs that are capable of replacing major liver components during liver regeneration.

Inelastic excitonic scattering processes have been investigated in ZnSe/ZnSxSel-xmultiple-quantum-well structures of different well width and strain content. The free-exciton energies have been determined by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy and compared with those calculated accounting for the actual strain contribution. All the samples show strong luminescence related to bound or localized excitons. In strain relaxed samples, the interaction of these states with free-electrons gives rise to optical gain at low temperature. In addition, a stronger stimulated emission is observable up to room temperature. The temperature and pumping intensity dependences of this latter amplification process suggest that two different lasing mechanisms may be invoked, namely free-exciton-bound-exciton or free-exciton-longitudinal-optical-phonon inelastic scattering.

A plasma focus system composed of a pair of counter-facing coaxial plasma guns is proposed as a long-pulse and efficient EUV light source. A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrated that with an assist of breakdown and outer electrode connections, current sheets evolved into a configuration for stable plasma confinement at the center of the electrode. The current sheets could successively compress and confine the high energy density plasma every half period of the discharge current, enabling highly repetitive light emissions in extreme ultraviolet region with time duration in at least ten microseconds for Xe plasma. Also, we confirmed operations of our system for Li plasma. We estimated the highest EUV energy in Li plasma operation at 93mJ/4 sr per 2% bandwidth per pulse.

Abstract: Background: Although many mechanical devices are being developed for functional end-to-end anastomosis (FETEA), the best choice remains to be determined. The mechanical strength of each device is an important factor associated with anastomotic leakage. In turn, anastomotic patency is related to postoperative stenosis. This study examined the bursting pressure and circumference of several FETEAs. Methods: Young domestic pigs were used in this study. In experiment 1, a 10-cm segment of intestine was transected using an EndoGIA 60 blue, EndoGIA 60 green, or GIA 60 blue stapler, and the bursting pressure of each instrument’s mechanical staple line was examined. In experiment 2, after FETEA had been created with EndoGIA 60 blue, the bursting sites were examined, and the bursting pressures of buttressed and nonbuttressed FETEA were measured and compared. In experiment 3, the circumference of FETEA was compared between the closed technique and reinforcement. Results: The bursting pressure of EndoGIA 60 blue was significantly higher than that of the other devices. When an anastomotic crotch was buttressed, the bursting pressure (44 ± 13 mmHg) was significantly increased over that of the nonbuttressed FETEA (27.5 ± 5.8 mmHg; p < 0.05). The circumference of FETEA using the wide technique (92.7 ± 2.3 mm) was larger than that using the offset technique (55.7 ± 5.8 mm). Conclusions: The bursting pressure of the mechanical staple line using the EndoGIA 60 stapler was the strongest. Functional end-to-end anastomosis was stronger when created with buttress of an anastomotic crotch, and larger circumferences were created with the wide technique.

Abstract.: The microscopic structure and dynamic properties of water, methanol, and acetonitrile confined in mesoporous MCM-41 materials have been investigated under monolayer and capillary-condensation conditions as a function of pore size and temperature by in situ FTIR and X-ray diffraction and quasi-elastic neutron scattering techniques. Both interfacial and confinement effects on the structure and dynamics of the liquids in hydrophilic pores are discussed at the molecular level.

We investigated the effects of nicotinamide (NA) supplementation of the processing medium during islet isolation. One hundred and two human pancreata were processed for clinical transplantation after preservation either in the University of Wisconsin (UW) or using the two-layer method (TLM). Pancreata were then divided into four groups and retrospectively analyzed. Group I: UW preservation followed by processing without NA, Group II: UW preservation and processing with NA, Group III: TLM preservation without NA, Group IV: TLM preservation with NA. We observed a significant increase in islet yield in Group II (4343 ± 348 IEQ/g) [mean ± SEM], compared to Group I (2789 ± 348 IEQ/g) (p = 0.005). Similarly, a significant increase in islet yield was observed when NA was used in the processing of organs preserved with TLM (Group IV: 5538 ± 413 vs. Group III: 3500 ± 629; p = 0.02). Furthermore islet yield was higher in Group IV than in Group II (p < 0.05). The percentages of preparations that qualified for transplantation were 25, 47, 45, 69% in Groups I, II, III, IV, respectively. Addition of NA to the processing medium significantly improved islet yields in both the UW and TLM preservation protocols, allowing for a higher percentage of islet preparations to qualify for clinical transplantation.

We investigated the effects of nicotinamide (NA) supplementation of the processing medium during islet isolation. One hundred and two human pancreata were processed for clinical transplantation after preservation either in the University of Wisconsin (UW) or using the two-layer method (TLM). Pancreata were then divided into four groups and retrospectively analyzed. Group I: UW preservation followed by processing without NA, Group II: UW preservation and processing with NA, Group III: TLM preservation without NA, Group IV: TLM preservation with NA. We observed a significant increase in islet yield in Group II (4343 ± 348 IEQ/g) [mean ± SEM], compared to Group I (2789 ± 348 IEQ/g) (p = 0.005). Similarly, a significant increase in islet yield was observed when NA was used in the processing of organs preserved with TLM (Group IV: 5538 ± 413 vs. Group III: 3500 ± 629; p = 0.02). Furthermore islet yield was higher in Group IV than in Group II (p < 0.05). The percentages of preparations that qualified for transplantation were 25, 47, 45, 69% in Groups I, II, III, IV, respectively. Addition of NA to the processing medium significantly improved islet yields in both the UW and TLM preservation protocols, allowing for a higher percentage of islet preparations to qualify for clinical transplantation.

Active reaction centers for ammonia on titanium oxyhydroxide were explored to direct the search for an efficient sol−gel method for the synthesis of a titanium oxynitride (TiO2-xNx) sample with an efficient responsiveness to the visible light constituting a main part of the solar spectrum. The results lead to the conclusion that the site giving IR bands at around 2195 cm^-1 for the adsorbed CO molecules at 300 K is a reactive site and behaves as Lewis acid site in the coordination environment of distorted five-coordinate Ti⁴⁺ ions. Ammonia molecules are adsorbed on such a site to form −NH2 and −OH species during the heat treatments at a temperature above 373 K, and they are ultimately incorporated into the TiO2 lattice as nitride through the dehydration at higher temperatures of up to 723 K, resulting in the formation of an anatase type of TiO2-xNx.

OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin is a potent peptide stimulating GH secretion. Besides its direct action on the pituitary, ghrelin has been reported to stimulate GH release via the vagal afferent nerve in rats. To examine the involvement of vagal nerve in ghrelin-induced GH secretion in humans, GH responses to ghrelin were compared between vagotomized patients with gastrectomy and normal subjects. METHODS: Ghrelin (0.2 microg/kg) or GHRH (1 microg/kg) was administered intravenously in vagotomized patients and normal subjects on separate days, and plasma GH responses to the stimuli were examined. RESULTS: Ghrelin caused a significant plasma GH rise in both vagotomized patients and normal subjects. Peak GH levels in vagotomized patients (37.5+/-16.9 ng/ml) were not different from those in normal subjects (29.9+/-23.1 ng/ml). The areas under the curve of GH response to ghrelin did not differ between the two groups. GHRH also increased GH levels, and peak GH levels and areas under the curve after GHRH stimulation were also comparable between vagotomized patients and normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the involvement of the afferent vagal nerve in ghrelin-induced GH secretion was not confirmed in humans.

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of digital x-ray imaging for measuring gastric motility in patients subjected to laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy without preservation of the pylorus (LADG) or laparoscopically assisted pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (LAPPG) for early gastric cancer. Between April 1998 and February 2002, 52 patients with preoperative stage IA gastric cancer underwent laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy, with 26 receiving LADG for tumors in the lower third of the stomach and 26 receiving LAPPG for tumors in the middle third of the stomach. The gastric emptying ratio at 15 min after the ingestion of the test meal was 61.8% ± 28.0% for LADG and 42.9% ± 18.0% for LAPPG (p< 0.01). The motility index was 2.65% ± 2.54% for LADG and 8.13% ± 2.46% for LAPPG (p< 0.001). In conclusion, LAPPG results in better motility than LADG for patients with early gastric cancer arising in the middle third of the stomach.

The reactivity of rare-earth sesquioxides, mainly neodymium oxide, in water vapor and their hydration process have been investigated by measuring the adsorbed amounts, infrared spectra, and water contents. The adsorption of water vapor on neodymium oxides, A-type and C-type Nd2O3, led to the formation of a neodymium hydroxide, Nd(OH)3. The variation of adsorbed amounts (in weight) with exposure time to water vapor suggested that the hydration process is different depending upon the crystal structure of neodymium sesquioxides. Combining with the data of IR spectra and water contents, it has been revealed that the hydration of A-type Nd2O3 takes place in one step [into Nd(OH)3] after an induction period of about 30 min, while that of C-type Nd2O3 proceeds in two steps [into Nd(OH)3 via NdOOH]. The adsorption of water vapor on other rare-earth sesquioxides was also examined; the hydration process of A-type lanthanum oxide (La2O3) was similar to that of A-type Nd2O3, while those of C-type sesquioxides, Nd2O3, samarium oxide (Sm2O3), and yttrium oxide (Y2O3), were different from each other. The difference in the rates of hydration for these oxides can be correlated with a basic nature of oxide. Therefore, the rate of hydration is eventually governed by the ionic radius of rare-earth metal ion because the basicity of oxide depends on the ionic radius of metal ion. To make the Nd2O3 surface resistant to water, the surface modification or coating was also tried by adsorbing a metal-alkoxide vapor. As a result, it was revealed that the surface-coated neodymium oxide (i.e., titania-coated Nd2O3) has a water-resistant property.

The reactivity of rare-earth sesquioxides, mainly neodymium oxide, in water vapor and their hydration process have been investigated by measuring the adsorbed amounts, infrared spectra, and water contents. The adsorption of water vapor on neodymium oxides, A-type and C-type Nd2O3, led to the formation of a neodymium hydroxide, Nd(OH)3. The variation of adsorbed amounts (in weight) with exposure time to water vapor suggested that the hydration process is different depending upon the crystal structure of neodymium sesquioxides. Combining with the data of IR spectra and water contents, it has been revealed that the hydration of A-type Nd2O3 takes place in one step [into Nd(OH)3] after an induction period of about 30 min, while that of C-type Nd2O3 proceeds in two steps [into Nd(OH)3 via NdOOH]. The adsorption of water vapor on other rare-earth sesquioxides was also examined; the hydration process of A-type lanthanum oxide (La2O3) was similar to that of A-type Nd2O3, while those of C-type sesquioxides, Nd2O3, samarium oxide (Sm2O3), and yttrium oxide (Y2O3), were different from each other. The difference in the rates of hydration for these oxides can be correlated with a basic nature of oxide. Therefore, the rate of hydration is eventually governed by the ionic radius of rare-earth metal ion because the basicity of oxide depends on the ionic radius of metal ion. To make the Nd2O3 surface resistant to water, the surface modification or coating was also tried by adsorbing a metal-alkoxide vapor. As a result, it was revealed that the surface-coated neodymium oxide (i.e., titania-coated Nd2O3) has a water-resistant property.

Background: After laparoscopic surgery (LS), patients show faster recovery of intestinal transit than after conventional open surgery (OS). To prove the mechanism of this advantage, we compared the recovery of intestinal transit using steel carbon balls. Methods: Rats underwent either open laparotomy or were insufflated with carbon dioxide followed by the administration of steel balls (0.6 mm). An abdominal radiograph was taken 12 h after the operation. Compliance of the intestinal walls was analyzed with a computer-driven barostat device. Results: An abdominal radiograph of 12 h after administration of the steel carbon balls showed the balls scattered in the small and large intestine of the LS patients, whereas they remained mostly in the stomach of the OS patients. Compliance of the intestinal walls was sustained at approximately 100 µl/mmHg in the LS patients, whereas it dropped to 94 µl/mmHg in the OS patients with the increase in balloon pressure. Histologically, the extent of serosal edema was more severe in the OS than in the LS patients. In terms of intestinal transit and irritation LS has advantage over OS. Conclusions: Intestinal transit recovery, as measured by the migration of steel carbon balls, is faster in LS, and gastric emptying is slow in OS.

The IR technique in combination with adsorption microcalorimetry was used to picture the bonding nature of silver ion exchanged or supported on solid materials, such as ZSM-5-type zeolite, aluminosilicate, and SiO2, by utilizing CO as a probe molecule. It has become apparent that there exists an adsorption site on which the CO molecule is adsorbed to give an IR absorption band:  IR band at around 2193 cm^-1 for silver-ion exchanged ZSM-5 (AgZSM-5) and aluminosilicate (Ag/SiO2·Al2O3), and at 2177 cm^-1 for silver-ion supported SiO2 (Ag/SiO2). The CO adsorption took place accompanying a large heat evolution of 100−80 kJ mol^-1 on the former two samples and relatively small heat of 70−40 kJ mol^-1 on the latter sample; silver ions exchanged with protons acting as Brønsted acid sites are responsible for the strong adsorption sites for CO adsorption. Taking account of the relationship between the differential heat of adsorption (qdiff) and the stretching vibrational frequency of adsorbed CO (νCO), it was concluded that the electrostatic interaction is dominantly operative in these systems. The large adsorption heats in the initial stage of CO adsorption on the AgZSM-5 and Ag/SiO2·Al2O3 samples may be successfully explainable by considering a little contribution of σ-bonding in addition to the electrostatic interaction. The quantum chemical calculation was performed to justify the two types of ion-exchange model for silver ion coordinated to two or three lattice oxygen atoms in AgZSM-5, as well as to clarify the bonding nature between the exchanged silver ion and CO molecule. As the results, the two-coordinated silver ions in AgZSM-5 can adsorb CO molecules and give the values of about 100 kJ mol^-1 and 2193 cm^-1, and the three-coordinated silver ions weakly adsorb CO to give the values of about 80 kJ mol^-1 and 2184 cm^-1. These adsorption energies are much smaller and the stretching frequencies due to the adsorbed CO are higher, compared with the case of CO adsorption on copper-ion exchanged ZSM-5 (CuZSM-5). From these results it can be interpreted that the dominant force operating in the AgZSM-5−CO system is electrostatic attraction, as is different from the case of CuZSM-5−CO system in which the σ-donation is dominant in the bonding. This difference is explained by taking account of the differences in energy gap between 4d−5s for silver ion and 3d−4s for copper ion; in the former case the hybridization of orbital is limited to result in a large σ-repulsion. The present experiment clearly proved that the evaluation of bonding nature from the relationship between qdiff and νCO is useful in the characterization of exchanged ions. The specific bonding nature between copper ion (Cu⁺) exchanged in ZSM-5 and CO molecule was also clarified.

The dynamics of water molecules monolayered on SrF2 and ZnO surfaces was investigated by quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) measurements. On both SrF2 and ZnO systems, the spectra of the monolayer samples are composed of a quasi-elastic wing besides the elastic peak; those of the dried samples give only the latter peak. The line width of the quasi-elastic component of the monolayer sample for SrF2 increases with the momentum transfer Q, indicating that the observed motion comprises both rotational and translational ones. The relaxation times τ of the observed motions were compared with the literature values for water molecules monolayered on Cr2O3 and in bulk liquid water, ice, and amorphous ice that were determined by QENS and dielectric measurements. For the SrF2 and ZnO systems, the τ values determined by the QENS measurements lie on the extended lines of dielectric data, while not for the Cr2O3 system. These results substantiate the validity of a structure model previously suggested, i.e., the monolayer water on Cr2O3 is a two-dimensional (2D) crystal and those on SrF2 and ZnO are 2D liquids. The τ values for the SrF2 and ZnO systems are longer than those for bulk water around room temperature, and their order of magnitude crosses over at lower temperatures (amorphous ice region). This result is explained as follows. The low mobility of the monolayer water molecules around room temperature is ascribed to a decrease in activation entropy caused by limted paths for molecular motion of the monolayer water on impermeable crystal surface. The formation of the hydrogen-bond network at low temperatures is hindered by the surface field, which results in a small apparent activation energy.

We previously developed the two-layer cold storage method (TLM), which allows sufficient oxygen delivery to the canine pancreas during preservation, and successfully achieved 96-h preservation. In this study, we applied a modified TLM (cavitary TLM) to small bowel preservation in a canine heterotopic transplant model.

Using simple storage in University of Wisconsin solution (UWM, group 1, n = 12) or cavitary TLM (group 2, n = 8), 40 cm segments of the jejunum were preserved for 24 h at 4 °C. The nonpreservation group served as the control (group 3, n = 8). The grafts were implanted heterotopically as a Thiry-Vella loop. Eleven of 12 dogs in group 1 died within 3 days post-transplant as a result of graft intraluminal hemorrhage, while all dogs in groups 2 and 3 survived until day 7. Histological analyses showed almost normal structures of the graft mucosa in groups 2 and 3 at day 7. Results from maltose and acetaminophen absorption tests in group 2 were comparable to those in group 3. Only one survivor in group 1 showed distinct graft mucosal damage, confirmed by histological and functional analyses. In our transplant model, the canine small bowel was successfully preserved by cavitary TLM for at least 24 h, while this preservation time was beyond the limit with UWM.

The S0 and T1 Raman spectra of all-trans-spheroidene and its deuterio derivatives (10-d, 12-d, 14-d, 15-d, 15‘-d, 14‘-d, and 15,15‘-d2) were recorded in n-hexane solution. The T1 state was generated by the use of a sensitizer, anthracene. An empirical normal-coordinate analysis of the spectral data was performed by using Urey−Bradley−Shimanouchi force field; non-UBS cross terms were also introduced. By the use of each carbon−carbon stretching force constant as a scale of bond order, large changes in bond order upon triplet excitation were identified in the central part of the conjugated chain:  decrease in bond order was in the order, C13&dbd;C14 > C11&dbd;C12 > C9&dbd;C10 > C15&dbd;15‘, whereas increase in bond order was in the order, C12&sbd;C13 > C14&sbd;C15 ≈ C14‘&sbd;C15‘. In other words, the triplet-excited region where the largest changes in bond order take place was located, not at the center of the entire carbon skeleton, but at the center of the conjugated chain. The S0 and T1 Raman spectra of 15-cis-spheroidene and its deuterio derivatives (12-d, 14-d, 15-d, 15‘-d, 14‘-d and 15,15‘-d2) incorporated into the photoreaction center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26 were also recorded. The T1 state of spheroidene was generated by excitation of bacteriochlorophyll at the Qx absorption and subsequent triplet-energy transfer to the carotenoid. The S0- and T1-state carbon−carbon stretching force constants showed changes in bond order similar to those of all-trans-spheroidene in solution. However, empirical and normal-coordinate analysis of the T1 Raman spectra showed twistings around the C15&dbd;C15‘, C13&dbd;C14 and C11&dbd;C12 bonds, the values of which were temporarily estimated to be +45°, −30° and +30°, respectively. A hypothetical mechanism of triplet-energy dissipation triggered by rotational motion around those double bonds has been proposed.

Treatment failure with conventional approaches, including systemic and regional chemotherapy, for refractory advanced primary or metastatic hepatic cancers has evoked periodic waves of enthusiasm for isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) over the past 50 years. With technical refinements of the procedure and the introduction of a novel biochemical regimen combining tumor necrosis factor and melphalan, several hepatobiliary-oncological centers initiated clinical trials of IHP in the 1990s. In parallel, a percutaneous technique of IHP has been developed in this era as a minimally invasive, simple form of IHP, and phase I and II studies have been done in some specialized centers. This study attempts to review past and current techniques of IHP, and to outline their possible role in the treatment of unresectable hepatic tumors, with special reference to hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal hepatic metastases.

We have prepared MCM-41 samples having good crystallinity and possessing a small amount of surface hydroxyl groups (0.48 OH nm^-2) through extensive aging of a mixed solution of silica and surfactant in the temperature range from 308 to 413 K. The MCM-41 sample thus prepared exhibits excellent resistance to water, and its structure survives even after treating it in boiling water for more than 1 week. The surface and acidic properties of this sample were examined by X-ray diffraction, ²⁹Si magic-angle spinning NMR, adsorption isotherms of dinitrogen and water molecules, and Fourier transform infrared measurements to determine the factors governing an adsorption feature and affecting the acidic property of the MCM-41 samples. The synthesized sample gives a sharp band centered at 3745 cm^-1 tailing toward the lower wavenumber side. This band was deconvoluted into three components (3749, 3736, and 3715 cm^-1), which were assigned to the stretching vibrations of the respective OH groups:  a free OH (silanol), a geminal OH, and a terminal OH group of the hydrogen-bonded species. The data obtained by utilizing CO as a probe molecule provide useful information on the acidic nature of the surface OH groups. A linear relationship between ΔνOH (shift in wavenumber of OH stretching vibration) and νCO (stretching vibration of adsorbed CO) has been found to hold in the present system. It is concluded that the newly formed OH groups, which give strong IR bands at 3736 and 3715 cm^-1, after water vapor and boiling water treatments, are responsible for the sites that are generally recognized as the strongly acidic sites existing in MCM-41, compared with the acidity of free silanol groups. The freshly prepared sample shows characteristic behavior in the differential heat of adsorption of water, qdiff, due to lateral interaction of the adsorbed water molecules. This is a different behavior from water adsorbed on the hydrated and boiled samples, indicating the homogeneous nature of the surface of the as-prepared sample for adsorbing water molecules. All properties of such materials should be discussed by taking account of the types of surface OH groups; the surface of MCM-41 having a smaller number of acid sites exhibits a prominent feature for water adsorption. From our results, it was concluded that the surface crystallinity of the sample plays a pivotal role in protecting the sample against attack by water and also in the adsorption behavior of adsorbates, such as water and CO molecules.

We investigated the relationship between plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and systolic and diastolic cardiac function, determined by echocardiography, in 63 patients with Duchenne's progressive muscular dystrophy (DMD) (age range 8-21 years). The relationship between shortening fraction of the left ventricle and ANP and BNP levels was curvilinear rather than linear: When the shortening fraction was >15%, increases in ANP and BNP levels were minimal. However, if the shortening fraction was <15%, both natriuretic peptide levels increased dramatically. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that only the deceleration time of the early diastolic filling wave predicted plasma BNP concentration among various diastolic echocardiographic parameters determined by mitral flow. Three patients died of cardiac dysfunction during a 2-year follow-up period. These patients had a severely decreased deceleration time (<65% of normal) in association with increases in both natriuretic peptide levels. In conclusion, plasma ANP and BNP levels are not sensitive markers for the early detection of cardiac systolic dysfunction in patients with DMD. However, in patients with systolic dysfunction, an increase in the concentrations of these peptides, associated with a decrease in the deceleration time of early diastolic filling, suggests poor prognosis.

We have previously found by NMR and CD spectroscopic studies that the helical content of the sodium channel inactivation gate-related peptide (Ac-GGQDIFMTEEQK-NH₂; MP-1A) in 80% trifluoroethanol solutions was increased by adding a pentapeptide, KIFMK. In order to study in further detail whether the presence of the IFM motif and the two lysine residues is a prerequisite for stabilizing the helical conformation, we examined interactions between various oligopeptides (RIFMR, KIFMTK, KIQMK, KAFAK, KIIIK) and MP-1A and its related peptides; that is, MP-2A in which Phe was replaced by Gln, MP-1MMA in which Thr was replaced by Met, MP-1TA in which Thr was removed from MP-1A, and MP-1A′ in which l-Phe was replaced by d-Phe. It was found that the IFM motif was absolutely necessary in both the oligopeptide and the inactivation gate peptide. This finding means that hydrophobic interactions are operative between KIFMK and MP-1A. In contrast, KIFMK destabilized the helical structure of MP-1MMA, MP-1TA, and MP-1A′, showing that the conformation around the IFM motif in the inactivation gate peptides is an important factor. It was concluded that the IFM motif and the two Lys residues are a prerequisite for effectively stabilizing the α-helix of MP-1A.

The two cytoplasmic linkers connecting segment S4 and segment S5 (S4-S5 linker) of both domain III (III/S4-S5) and IV (IV/S4-S5) of the sodium channel α-subunit are considered to work as a hydrophobic receptor for the inactivation particle because of the three hydrophobic amino acids of Ile-Phe-Met (IFM motif) in the III-IV linker of the sodium channel α-subunit. To date, the solution structures of the peptides related to III/S4-S5 (MP-D3: A1325-M1338) and IV/S4-S5 (MP-D4: T1648-L1666) of human brain sodium channels have been investigated using CD and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. SDS micelles were employed as a solvent. The micelles mimic either biological membranes or the interior of a protein and can be a relevant environment at the inactivated state of the channels. It was found that the secondary structures of both MP-D3 and MP-D4 assume α-helical conformations around the N-terminal half-side of the sequences, i.e. the residues between V1326 and L1331 in MP-D3 and between L1650 and S1656 in MP-D4. Residue A1329 in MP-D3, which is considered to interact with F1489 of the IFM motif, was found to be located within the α-helix. Residues F1651, M1654, M1655, L1657 and A1669 in MP-D4, which also play an important role in inactivation, formed a hydrophobic cluster on one side of the helix. This cluster was concluded to interact with the hydrophobic cluster due to the III-IV linker before the inactivation gate closes.

Autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (AR-JP) is characterised by homogenous clinical features and selective degeneration of nigral neurons. Recent progress in molecular genetic analyses of AR-JP has led to the identification of a novel ubiquitin-like protein, parkin, whose precise function still remains to be elucidated. Two unrelated Japanese families had levodopa unresponsive parkinsonism complicated with cerebellar and pyramidal tract dysfunction. Genetic analysis of the parkin gene and mRNA in both families disclosed identical mutations with large deletions extending from exons 3 to 4. These results suggest that the parkin protein possesses an important function not only in the substantia nigra but also in extranigral neurons of the CNS and that the phenotype of multiple system dysfunction can also be a complication in patients with AR-JP due to variations in sites of or changes in functions by parkin mutation.

The Ile-Phe-Met (IFM) motif located in the III-IV linker of voltage-gated sodium channels has been identified as a major component of the fast inactivation gate. If Gln was substituted for Phe, the role in the gate was disrupted completely. If Ile was replaced by Gln inactivation became slightly incomplete and if the Thr, which is adjacent to the IFM motif (-IFMT-), was replaced by Met, inactivation became much more incomplete than in the I/Q mutation, but not as vigorous as in the F/Q mutation. Previously, we studied the structures of the inactivation gate-related peptide (K1480-K1496 in rat brain type-IIA, MP-3A) and its F1489/Q substituted one (MP-4A) in SDS micelles and found that the conformational change of the IFM hydrophobic cluster due to the F/Q substitution may be a reason for disrupting the gate. In this study, in order to obtain supporting evidence for this view and also to further knowledge of the effect of I/Q and T/M mutations on the structure of the IFM cluster, we studied the structures of I1488Q [MP(rb)-3QFMT] and T1491M [MP(rb)-3IFMM] substituted peptides. The fragment peptide K1477-K1493 [MP(hh)-3A] and its T1488M substituted peptide [MP(hh)-3IFMM] in the human heart sodium channel were also studied. It was found that the backbone structures around the IMF motif of MP-3A, MP(hh)-3A and MP(rb)-3QFMT resemble one another in such a manner that the residues Ile(Gln) and Thr are brought so close together that they form a unique type of lid to occlude the pore. In contrast, the residues between Ile and M1491 of MP(rb)-3IFMM or M1488 of MP(hh)-3IFMM were fairly far apart from each other. We conclude that Thr plays an important role in forming a structure of the IFM hydrophobic cluster for inactivation.